Sturrock shown door by Saints

LESS than 48 hours after receiving the public backing of his chairman, Southampton manager Paul Sturrock was yesterday told to clear his desk after becoming the first managerial victim of the new Barclays Premiership season.

LESS than 48 hours after receiving the public backing of his chairman, Southampton manager Paul Sturrock was yesterday told to clear his desk after becoming the first managerial victim of the new Barclays Premiership season.

Sturrock departs St Mary's after just six months in charge with a statement from club chief Rupert Lowe declaring it was a decision reached by mutual consent after media speculation had made the Scotsman's position untenable.

The news represents a swift turnaround from Lowe who publicly backed his manager on Saturday after watching Saints stage their first comeback win since November 2002 with a brave 3-2 victory against Blackburn.

"We have a policy where the board runs the club, not the media. We have got Paul Sturrock managing the club and that is good enough for us," he said.

Lowe was responding to a week of intense speculation suggesting Sturrock had been given just one more game to make safe his job following the tame 2-0 surrender against Aston Villa in the Premiership opener.

Assistant coach Steve Wigley takes over in a caretaker capacity.

THE Football Association have charged referee Andy D'Urso with 'less than proficiently applying the laws of the game'.

D'Urso failed to send off Blackburn's Barry Ferguson after twice booking him during Rovers' Barclays Premiership game at Southampton on Saturday.